Filling for and treatment of fractured masonry walls



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C Y u amg@ s Patented Mar. 4, 1947 FILLING FOR AND TREATMENT F FRACTUBEDMASONRY WALLS William H. Walter, Lima. Ohio Application January 30,1946, Serial No. 644,299

(Cl. 'l2-127) 'l Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a filling for and treatment offractured masonry walls for restraining further deterioration of thefractured structure, and weatherprooflng the repaired regions thereof.

Commonly. the walls of buildings constructed of masonry, such as thoseformed of bricks and the like, bonded in mortar, especially walls thatare exposed to atmospheric elements and those that have been erected onweak foundations or unstable earth, become fractured along the jointsbetween the bricks, or other structural units, due to unequal settlingof the wall. In such instances, the openings of the fractures permitentrance of water therein, which upon freezing, incurs enlargement ofthe fracture and consequent weakening of the wall and seepage ofmoisture therethrough.

'I'he common practice in repairing fractured masonry walls is carriedout by removing loose material from the fracture crevice and thenillling the void with pointing mortar containing Portland cement, limeand sand which subsequently solidies and substantially resists relativemovement between the wall sections adjoining'the fracture line. However,any continued unequal settling of the wall induces reopening of the gapbetween the wall sections previously separated, resulting in liabilityof moisture seepage through the wall, necessitating further repair.

The object of the instant invention is after removal of all loosematerial from between the opposing faces of the abutting bricks orblocks along the fracture line. to invest into the gap waterproofingsemi-rigid materials capable of yielding to pressure, exerted thereon bythe opposing faces of the fracture crevices upon continued unequalsettling of the broken wall sections, and in this manner obviatereopening of the crevices and thus prevent leakage of moisture throughthe wall when subjected to inclement weather conditions.

Another object of the invention is, to provide a filler for the crevicesin a fractured masonry wall so constituted as to yield accommodatinglyand follow the movement of broken wall sections as they settle, withoutcrumbling or cracking, and thus forestall penetration of moisturethrough the fracture gap.

Other objects and advantages of the invention appear in the followingdescription.

A schematicembodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a fractured wall ofmasonry, portions thereof being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of a portion of the wall, showing thefracture crevice as it appears after a preparatory operation of fillingthe crevice has been performed;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the wall as it appears after a furtheroperation has been made; and

Fig. 4 is another similar view of the wall as it appears aftercompletion of the filling operations.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are drawn `to an increased scale.

In the drawings, the front and back faces of the wall are indicatedby Aand B respectively, and the cross-sectioned portions C and D illustratethe wall structure in corresponding vertical planes on the lines C and-D on Fig. 3.

In treating a fractured masonry wall in accordance with the instantinvention. the fracture crevice 5, between the adjacent bricks 8, isfirst cleared of all rubble and the opposing faces of the bricksbordering the crevice are subjected to the action of a power orhand-operated routing tool, such as are in common use, thus to bare thel opposing fracture faces completely. Such dust or particles of materialthat have lingered in the crevice are readily removed therefrom bydirecting a Jet of compressed air into the crevice by use of anysuitable known device adapted for purpose. i

After the crevice and the opposing walls thereof have been thoroughlyrelieved of all loose matter. the rear portion of the crevice is closedby a pack l formed of calking material luch as oakum or similarsubstance. The remahing exposed surfaces of the crevice walls and theinner face of the pack are then primed thoroughly with a coat 8consisting of a mixture of boiled linseed oil and tung oil in the ratioof each. This is accomplished by use of a stiiI brush so the surfacescoated are completely saturated with the mixture to insure properanchorage of the coating in the pores of the treated areas. After theprimary coat has dried, a dense plastic ller 9 is then invested into thecrevice so as to fill the midsection thereof, the operation beingperformed by use of any ordinary appliance (not shown). The fillerconsists of a mixture compounded of ingredients according to a formula,preferably as follows:

Pounds Medium oil lithopone 10 Magnesium silicate, Asbestine).. 40Calcium carbonate 50 Short fibre asbestos 20 that more or less plasticconsistency by admixture therewith of a suitable quantity of linseed oilwhich softens the aggregate and facilitates packing of the filler intothe crevice` and furthermore increases resistance of the filler toshrinkage.

The outermost; portion of the crevice is then completely invested with acomposition made up of ingredients like or similar to the formula forthe filler with an added quantity of fish oil to the extent of 18% ofthe bulk` and constitutes a seal I for the filler and the crevice. Thesealing composition preferably has included therein a coloring pigmentof a hue to match that of the outer face of the wall, thus to relievethe repaired fracture of unsightliness.

Thus, the crevice is lcompletely filled with the investments, viz: Thepack 1, priming coat 8, filler 9 and the seal I0, all of which are moreor less compressible as well as expansible, and take up such slack as isoccasioned between the opposing crevice walls caused by continuedSettling of the wall sections.

The ller 9 is of greater density than that of the seal. the latter beingmore responsive to the force of compression and expands more freely uponwidening of thegaowhile both the filler and seal adhere tenaciously tothe priming coat. In this manner the crevice is tightly filled with acompressible and expansible body that is impervious to moisture whichcircumvents capillary seepage of moisture through the wall. l

.A distinguishing feature of the invention lies in the filling of thefracture gaps in the wall with semi-rigid materials having adhesive,elastic and impervious characteristics, the body of which has thetendency to cling to the fracture walls and remain in place, thuskeeping the gap tightly closed during continued settling ofthe fracturedstructure.

The relative thicknesses of the pack, fillerv and seal, and theparticular ingredients and proportions thereof set forth in the formulaeare exemplary. Fractured crevices in masonry walls wall sections, andvariations in the materials forming4 the pack, priming coat, filler andthe seal may be resorted to,with respect to the proportions ofingredients and precise character thereof by exercise of skill andjudgment, without departure from the invention.

What I claim is:

v1. A filling for crevices in fractured masonry walls, said fillingconsisting of a pack formed of calking material for the rear opening ofthe crevice, an adhesive coating for the inner face of the pack andadjacent walls of the crevice, a filler for the midportion of thecrevice consisting of a mixture of medium oil lithopone-l lbs.,magnesium silicate (Asbestine)-40 lbs., calcium carbonate- 50 lbs.,short fibre asbestos-20 lbs. and linseed oil in sufficient quantity torender the mixture plastic, and a seal for the front portion of thecrevice consisting of a mixture similar to that for the filler with anadded amount of fish oil substantially equivalent to 18% of theaggregate.

2. In a filling for a fracture crevice =in a masonry walls, a pack ofoakum or the like closing.

the rear opening of the crevice, an elastic priming coat overlying therear face of the pack and the adjacent opposing walls of the crevice, acompressible, expansible and impervious filler in the,v

midportion of the crevice, said filler consisting of a compositioncontaining a mixture of medium oil lithopone, magnesium silicate,calcium carbonate, short fibre asbestos and linseed oil, and a sealclosing the front portion of the crevice the composition of which issimilar to that of the filler with an added quantity of fish oil andhaving greater compressibility, expansibility and imperviousness thansaid filler.

3. In a filling for a fracture crevice in a masonry wall, a pack ofoakum or the like closing the rear portion of the crevice, an elasticpriming coat overlaying the rear face of the pack and surfaces of thefracture walls adjacent thereto.

- a compressible and expansible filler in the midportion of the crevicebetween said walls, and av compressible and expansible impervious sealclosing the front portion of said crevice.

4. A filling disposed in the crevice of afractured masonry wallconsisting of a pack closing the inner portion of the crevice, anadhesive coat overlaying the innerface of the pack and ad-v jacentfracture faces of the wall, a non-rigid ller located in the midportionof the fracture crevice adhering to said coat, and an elastic imperviousseal that fills and closes the outer portion of said crevice and adheresto said coat.

vestment of a non-hardening, compressible, ex-

pansible and impervious plastic that adheres to said primer and sealsthe front opening of said masonry wall, the steps of removing rubblefrom the gap and baring the opposing walls thereof. closing the rearopening of the gap with a pack of calking material, coating the innerfaces of the 'pack and adjacent walls of the gap with an adhesiveprimer, and then filling the gap completely with an investment of anon-hardening, compressible, expansible, and impervious substance thatadheres to the primer and seals the front opening of the gap.

'7. In a method of closing the gap in a fractured masonry wall, thesteps of removing rubble from the gap and baring the opposing wallsthereof. closing the rear opening of the gap with a pack of calkingmaterial, investing in the midportion of the gap, a non-hardeningcompressible and expansible filler, and then closing the forward portionof the gap with sealing material having characteristics of the fillerand being more expansible.

WILLIAM H. WALTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the nie ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

